TSN's Season of Champions gets rolling on Nov. 30 with the Canada Cup from Brandon, MB. Seven of the best Canadian rinks on both the men's and women's sides will each be vying for crucial CTRS points as well as a spot to the 2017 Olympic Trials for the winners. 

 

Women's Side

 

Canada Cup Rosters

Skip  Third Second Lead
Chelsea Carey Amy Nixon  Jocelyn Peterman Laine Peters
Kerri Einarson Selena Kaatz Liz Fyfe Kristin MacCuish
Tracy Fleury Crystal Weber Jenna Walsh Jennifer Wylie
Rachel Homan Emma Miskew Joanne Courtney Lisa Weagle
Jennifer Jones Kaitlyn Lawes Jill Officer Dawn McEwen 
Kelsey Rocque  Laura Crocker Taylor McDonald Jen Gates
Val Sweeting Lori Olson-Johns Dana Ferguson Rachelle Brown

 

Key Storylines

Embedded ImageRachel Homan (ON): The defending champs. The Ottawa squad won this event last year in Grande Prairie, booking their spot to the 2017 Canadian Trials in the process. Team Homan have already won two events this year and will look to keep it rolling in Brandon.

 

Embedded ImageChelsea Carey (AB): Team Carey might be the most motivated team at the Canada Cup. The foursome will be looking for redemption in Brandon. Despite winning the Scotties Tournament of Hearts last season, a remarkable achievement for any rink, Team Carey lost their Olympic Trials spot after failing to reach the podium at the world championships in Swift Current, SK. They'll have a chance to get it back at the Canada Cup. 

 

Embedded ImageJennifer Jones (MB): You know this team will be in the thick of things by week's end. The Winnipeg foursome is starting to hit their stride after skip Jones missed time at the start of the season due to the birth of her second child. Last year they finished the round robin with a 4-2 record before losing to Team Sweeting in the semis, 5-3. Bet on a playoff appearance for the Olympic champs once again. They have one victory this season, a defence of their championship at the DEKALB Superspiel in Morris, MB. Team Jones has already qualified for the 2017 Canadian Olympic Trials.

 

Embedded ImageVal Sweeting (AB): After beating Homan in the final of the 2014 Canada Cup, Team Sweeting fell to Team Homan in the championship game last year. The Edmonton crew, who lost in the Canadian final in both 2014 and 2015, picked up their first victory since September 2015 at the Grand Slam's Tour Challenge earlier this month. They're currently sixth on the CTRS, so collecting some points (if not a victory) is a must as the opportunities to qualify for the Trials start to dwindle. 

 

Embedded ImageKelsey Rocque (AB): The young squad from Edmonton is playing in their second season together and will look to improve on their 2-4 mark from last year's Canada Cup. Team Rocque have already said they won't play in the Alberta provincials this year (so no Scotties appearance), meaning they have one less route to the Trials. A good showing at the Canada Cup will be big for Rocque's team and their confidence with playing against the best in the game moving forward.

 

Embedded ImageKerri Einarson (MB): Winnipeg's Team Einarson will play in their first Canada Cup. The fourth-year team is currently way down the list on the CTRS (61st to be exact), so picking up some critical points is their top priority. They had a strong showing at the national championship last season, losing to fellow Winnipeggers Team Jones in the bronze medal game. They'll be a hard out in Brandon. 

 

Embedded ImageTracy Fleury (NO): Team Fleury went 1-5 at last year's Canada Cup. Of course they'll look to improve, but it might be a tough task to get into the playoffs. They are playing some good curling as of late, winning the Sunova Spiel just two days before the start of the Canada Cup.

 

 

 

Men's Side

 

Canada Cup Rosters

Skip  Third  Second Lead 
Reid Carruthers Braeden Moskowy Derek Samagalski Colin Hodgson
John Epping Mathew Camm Patrick Janssen Tim March
Mark Nichols (Brad Gushue) Charley Thomas Brett Gallant Geoff Walker
Brad Jacobs Ryan Fry E.J. Harnden Ryan Harnden
Kevin Koe Marc Kennedy Brent Laing Ben Hebert
Steve Laycock Kirk Muyres Colton Flasch Dallan Muyres
Mike McEwen B.J. Neufeld Matt Wozniak Denni Neufeld

 

Key Storylines 

Embedded ImageKevin Koe (AB): Canada Cup...check. Brier...check. World championship...check. Team Kevin Koe dominated men's curling in 2015-16 and already have two titles under their belts this season. The defending Canada Cup champs will a favourite at every event they play in for the foreseeable future. Their Trials spot is already locked in, so they don't stand to lose anything in Brandon, but still have to be considered the team to beat. 

 

Embedded ImageBrad Gushue (NL): Skipper Gushue will miss the Canada Cup due to the hip/groin injury that has sidelined him for the season to this point. In Gushue's absence, regular vice Mark Nichols has stepped in and done an admirable job with a win at the StuSells Toronto Tankard and the top spot on the CTRS rankings. They finished 3-4 last year at this event. Calgary's Charley Thomas will play vice for this foursome. This is an important year for the rink from St. John's as their province will host the Brier for the first time since 1972 in March. And you better believe Gushue, who won gold at the Olympics with Nichols back in 2006, wants to be a part of it.

 

Embedded ImageBrad Jacobs (NO): The 2014 Olympic champions finished with a 3-4 record at last year's Canada Cup, failing to make the playoff round. They had a down year (for their standards) in 2015-16, but have already won an event this season. It's hard to imagine Team Jacobs are ready to relinquish their Sochi title to another Canada squad, so expect the boys from Sault Ste. Marie to be in the thick of things in attempt to get the Trials spot. 

 

Embedded ImageMike McEwen (MB): Winnipeg's Team McEwen made it to the final of the 2015 Canada Cup before falling to Koe. They won the DEKALB Superspiel and hold the eighth position on the CTRS rankings this year. Team McEwen have proven to be one of the best rinks in curling over the past five years or so and will have the home province support behind them in Manitoba. 

 

 

Embedded ImageJohn Epping (ON): Team Epping of Toronto is a rink that has been making some noise on the curling circuit the past few seasons. They won two events in 2015-16 and already have a couple victories this campaign. As a result they own the third-most CTRS points and also sit fourth on the WCT Money List. This group, who are playing in their second full year together, will be a dark horse in Brandon. They made it to the semis last year, losing to eventual champions Team Koe, 7-6.

 

Embedded ImageReid Carruthers (MB): Winnipeg's Team Carruthers won the Canad Inn Men's Classic in October and have made the playoffs at both Grand Slams events this season, good enough for No. 2 on the CTRS. They finished 2-5 in Grande Prairie last season and are fully capable of improving on that mark despite the stacked field. 

 

Embedded ImageSteve Laycock (SK): Just like the other six teams at the Canada Cup, the best rink in Saskatchewan has what it takes to win it all if they can get hot at the right time. Laycock and company won the Direct Horizontal Drilling Fall Classic from Edmonton in early October and have appeared in three straight national championships. They may have finished tied for last at the 2015 Canada Cup, but are still a team that can do some damage.

 

The fields at the Canada Cup are wide open with every rink having a real shot at booking a spot to the Canadian Olympic Trials in December 2017 from the nation's capital. If defending champs Team Koe or Team Homan win again, their extra trials spot will be replaced by a team on the CTRS at a later date. All of the action gets underway on Nov. 30 at 9:30am ET/6:30am PT on the TSN Network. Click here for the full schedule.